Machine for making flexible metal fabric.



A. G. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE METAL FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED 001.11,1913.

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Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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MACHINE FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE METAL FABRIC.

APPLICATION rum) 00'r.11, 1913.

INVENTOR (a flag;

ATTORNEYS ASHINGTON, u. n.

THE NoERIs PETERS c0 PHOTO-LITHQ, W

ALPI-IONSO C.

PRATT, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE METAL FABRIC.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALPHONSO C. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Flexible Metal Fabric, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for making fabrics consisting of a multiplicity of links which are interlocked to form a mesh, such mesh being used to a large extent in jewelry work.

The invention is directed particularly to the production of a machine for making mesh consisting of links which are of a shape approaching a semi-circle or three sides of a rectangle, these links being arranged in rows and each link of each row having its two ends encircling the middle portions of two adjacent links of the next adjacent row. Mesh of this same general character has been made heretofore by hand slowly and at considerable expense.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a machine for making mesh of this character whereby the time and expense incident to the production of the mesh is greatly reduced.

In mesh of this character as heretofore made, the links have been formed by cutting out from a metallic sheet annular pieces of a shape approaching an oval or rectangle and then folding each of these pieces along the shorter diameter to a double thickness and separating the two thicknesses at the ends of the link thus formed to provide a loop at each of these ends. In order to facilitate making mesh of this general character upon a machine, I change the construction of the link slightly by making it from a single thickness of metal throughout the major portion thereof, the ends of the strip from which the link is formed being turned or curled so as to provide the necessary loops at these ends. The invention consists in the provision of a machine comprising a support for holding a piece of link-mesh fabric consisting of a multiplicity of links arranged in rows, each of which links has its ends encircling the middle portions of two adjacent links of the next adjacent row, link forming tools of any suitable character, suitable operating mechanism for moving the tools and the support relatively step by step to present different points on the mesh Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 11, 1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Serial No. 794,604.

carried by the support to the tools to receive new links, and means for operating the tools intermittently so as to apply a new link to the mesh on the support, project the ends of that link over the middle portions of two adjacent links at the edge of the fabric on the support and then curl those ends so that they will embrace and become interlocked with those two links of the fabric. Preferably the invention is practised by feeding the new links to the link forming tools in a continuous strip of integrally connected links, each link being severed from the strip as an incident to forming it and applying it to the fabric.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, certain of the parts being removed to expose the underlying parts, Fig. 3 is a partial view of the support for the fabric, Figs. l to 9 are detail views in vertical section showing successive positions of certain portions of the mechanism, Fig. 10 is a section through the guide for the strip of links, Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view showing the parts in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. l, Fig. 12 shows the strip of links, Fig. 13 shows a single link, Figs. 14: and 15 are views of the mesh made on the machine and Fig. 16 is a view of some of the operating cams.

Referring to these drawings, 1 indicates a support or table upon which most of the parts of the machine are mounted. A stationary mandrel 2 projects upwardly from this table and has a cylindrical portion, the surface of which is provided with one or more spiral threads as shown at 3 in Fig. 3. A ring a is stationarily mounted encircling the mandrel and forms a bearing for a sleeve 5, the interior surface of which is provided with vertically disposed ridges as is indicated in Figs. 1 and The sleeve 5 is arranged to be rotated step by step and for this purpose is provided with ratchet teeth 6 at its upper end which are engaged by a pawl 7. This pawl is pressed by a spring 8 toward the ratchet 6 and is located in an opening in an armon the upper end of a rod 9 which is adapted to be rocked in suitable bearings. This rod 9 has an arm 10 secured thereto which is engaged by the end of a rod 11 which reciprocates in a block 12 mounted on table 1 and which is actuated by a cam 13 mounted upon a power-shaft 1 1. As shaft 1% is rotated, the arm 10 is actuated at regular intervals to cause the pawl 7 to turn ring 6 one step. After each such step, the ring 6 is held by a retaining pawl 15. Between the ring 5 and the mandrel 2 is a narrow space adapted to receive a piece of link-mesh fabric in the form of a sleeve which fits over the stationary man drel 2.

The links of this fabric are arranged in one or more rows which extend spirally around this sleeve of fabric. This spiral arrangement of the links and the shape of the links themselves are such that one or more spiral depressions are formed upon the inner side of the sleeve of fabric into which the spiral ridges 3 upon the mandrel 2 enter. Also the formation of this fabric is such that vertical grooves appear upon the exterior surface thereof and into these grooves the vertical ridges on the interior surface of the ring 5 extend. By reason of the provision of these ridges arranged as described, when the ring is rotated step by step, the ridges thereon cause the sleeve of mesh to be rotated with the ring and as the sleeve of mesh is rotated thus it is raised vertically by reason of the spirally arranged ridges on the mandrel 2. After rod 11 has actuated sleeve 5 it is returned to initial position by a spring 16 acting upon an arm 17 secured to rod 9 and serving as a stop to limit backward movement of pawl 7.

The type of mesh which is to be made on the machine is shown in Fig. 1e. From this figure it will be seen that the mesh consists of a plurality of parallel rows of links, each link being of a shape approaching a semicircle or three sides of a rectangle and that each link of each row has its ends encircling the middle portions of two adjacent links of the next adjacent row. In the present instance, the links are shown as having the form of three sides of a rectangle with the corners cut 05, so that th inclined portions of the link thus formed serve as means for preventing spreading of the two link ends encircling the middle portion of the link.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the piece of mesh from which it will be seen how the end of one link is curled over the middle portion of another link so as to become interlocked with that other link but movable relatively thereto.

Fig. 13 shows one of the links before its ends have been bent for coaction with two other links. These links, such as that shown in Fig. 13, are preferably fed into position for adding them to the fabric on the support above described by having them initially in the form of a continuous strip ofintegrally connectel links. Such a strip is shown in Fig. 12. It will be seen by reference to this figure that the upright portions of the strip shown may be out along the central lines thereof thus forming links of the shape shown in Fig. 13.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the table of the machine has a reel 18 mounted for rotation thereon and this reel carries a strip 19 ofintegrally connected links, such as that shown in Fig. 12. This strip passes through a guide 20 mounted upon the table 1 and in the side of this guide is an opening adapted to receive the end of a feeding finger 21. Th1s finger is pivotally mounted upon the end of an arm 22 and is pressed by a spring 23 toward the strip 19. The arm 22 is pivotally mounted upon the table of the machine and is rigidly connected to or formed integral with an arm 2% which is actuated by a rod 25 reciprocating in an opening in the block 12. This rod 25 is reciprocated by a cam 26 on the power-shaft 1%, its end being held in engagement with the cam by a spring 27. The cam 26, like the cam 13, has one raised portion thereon so that in each rotation of shaft is the sleeve of mesh on the support is turned one step and the strip 19 of links is fed through guide 20 one step, this step being of a length equal to the length of one link. This feeding movement of strip 19 projects the end of the strip beyond the end of the guide 20 a distance equal to the length of one link. When the strip 19 is fed forward thus, its end is proected in front of a plunger 28 and diemember 29. The plunger 28 is adapted to reclprocate toward and away from the mandrel 2 and is guided by a housing 30 secured upon the table 1 and a pin which moves in a slot 31 in the table 1. This plunger has an oifset therein as shown in Fig. 1 so that the die-member 29 passes through the plunger 28 at the operating end of the plunger and the remainder of the plunger is displaced from and parallel to the die-member. The rear ends of the plunger 28 and die-member 29 carryrollers which ride on the periphery of cams 32 and 33 respectively mounted on shaft 1-1, the rollers being held in coaction with the cams by springs 34.

It will be seen that the operating ends of the plunger and die-rod lie close to the end of guide 20. These two parts are adapted to coact with the end of the guide 20 to cut one link from the strip passing through the guide. The end of plunger 28 has an opening therethrough through which the die member 29 passes, but this opening is not a central opening. It extends out to the side of plunger 28 toward the guide 20 and is open on that side. the plunger 28 and die-member toward the guide 20 lie in the same plane. This is shown in Fig. 10 which gives an end View of the plunger and die-member and in which the left side of the die-member 29 appears As a result, the sides of J25 flush with the left side of the plunger 28. This side of these two parts is adapted to move in close contact with the end of guide 20 when the plunger and die-member are moved forward by their cams and the edge at the end and left side of the plunger and die-member coacts with the end of guide 20 to out a link from the strip 19 passing through the guide. The line of this cut is indicated by the dotted line on Fig. 10.

After the link has been severed, its ends are turned over at about a right angle to the body portion of the link by the plunger 28 coacting with an anvil This anvil is formed upon the end of an arm which is carried by a rod 36 which rod reciprocates in guides 37 and 38 secured upon the table 1. A spring coiled upon rod 36 holds one end of the rod always in engagement with a cam 4.0 secured on power-shaft 1e. The rod 36 has a pin thereon which moves in a slot ll in the housing 37. This slot, as shown in Fig. 1, has a straight portion and at the end thereof an inclined portion. By reason of this provision, when the rod 36 is reciprocated toward the right as shown in Fig. 1, the anvil is moved away from the link and toward the mesh on the mandrel 2 and thereafter the anvil is raised out of the path of reciprocation of plunger 28 due to the rocking of rod 36 by the slot 41 coacting with the pin on the rod.

In bending the ends of the links to their final form, the plunger 28 and die-member 29 on one side of the mesh'on the mandrel coact with a die-member e2 located on the opposite side of the mesh. This die-member is integral with or secured to a rod 43 reciprocating in suitable supports on the bottom of table 1. This rod is actuated by a bellcrank lever is connected thereto at one end and at the other provided with a roller which rides upon the periphery of a cam 4:5 secured on power-shaft 14. A. spring e6 connected to lever H- holds the roller always in coaction with the cam.

Referring now to Figs. st to 11, Figs. 4 and 11 show the plunger and die-member in their most retracted positions, which positions they occupy when the strip 19 is fed forward. In these figures the strip is shown as having been fed forward through the guide 20 distance equal to the length of one link. The anvil 35 is shown on the side of the link opposite the plunger 28. The parts on the opposite sides of the link are separated by justenough space to permit the strip 19 to pass freely between them. These figures also show the mandrel 2. a piece of mesh on the mandrel and the diemember as which is arranged in an opening in the mandrel 2. l shows the bodyportion of a link at the lower edge of the piece of fabric on mandrel 2 hanging down into the opening for the die-member 42.

Fig. 11 shows two adjacent links at the lower edge of the fabric having their adjacent edges in line with the center of the opening for die-member 42 in such position that the ends of a new link can be engaged one with each of these two links. lVith the parts in the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 11. the first movement which takes place is a movement of plunger 28 and die-member 29 together. so that the alining edges of these two parts move across the end of guide 20 and sever the projecting link from the strip 19 passin through the guide. At the same time, the link is pressed into engagement with the end of anvil so there is no danger of the severed link dropping. The parts are then in the position shown in Fig. Immediately after the link has been severed, the plunger 28 moves forwardly ahead of the die-member 29 so that the ends of the link projecting above the upper surface of the die-member 29 are turned over at substantially a right angle to the bod vportion of the link so that these ends lie upon the upper surface of anvil 35. This relation of the parts is shown in Fig. 6. immediately thereafter the anvil 35, having fulfilled its function, is withdrawn. The anvil first moves toward the mandrel so as to disengage it from the link and plunger 2 and it is then moved laterally out of the path of plunger 28. This relation of the parts is shown in Fig. 7. The plunger 28 and die-member then move forward to the Fig. 8 position so that the link is carried to the mesh, and toward the end of this movement. the die-member 29 is moved slightly independently of the plunger 28 so that the link is expelled from within the end of plunger 28. its bent ends being carried over the body-portions of two adjacent links at the lower edge of the fabric on mandrel 2. The movement of die-member 29 independently of plunger 28 continues beyond this point and at the same time the die member 42 on the opposite side of the fabric brought up so that the parts move from the Fig. 8 to the Fig. 9 position. As this occurs. the bent ends of the link engage curved depressions in the end of die-member +2 and are caused to curl around so that 'tl'lev ment, the strip of connected links is fed The sleeve of mesh is forward one step and then the tools operate to sever a link from the strip, properly form the link and then add that link to the mesh. After cutting the link from the strip, the tools bend the ends of the link over, then move the link forward so that the bent ends are carried over two links of the mesh and then further curl the bent ends of the links so that they encircle the body-portions of two links of the fabric.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows 1. A machine for making link-mesh fabric having a support for holding a piece of fabric consisting of multiplicity of rows of links, each of which links has its ends encircling the middle portions of two adjacent links of the next adjacent row, linkforming tools, means for moving the support and tools relatively to present difierent points on the piece of fabric to the tools to receive links, and means for operating the tools intermittently to cause them to curl the ends of a new link over the middle portions of two adjacent links at the edge of the piece of fabric on the support, substantially as set forth.

' 2. A. machine for making link-mesh fabric having a support for holding a piece of fabric consisting of a multiplicity of rows of links, each of which links has its ends encircling the middle portions of-two adjacent links of the neXt adjacent row, linkforming tools, means for moving the support and tools relatively step-by-step to present different points on the piece of fabric to the tools to receive links, and means for operating the tools in the intervals of rest of said step-by-step movement to cause them to bend the ends of a new link, project those ends over the middle portions of two adjacent links of the piece of fabric on the support and then further bend said ends to cause them to embrace said two links, substantially as set forth.

Z). A machine for making link-mesh fabric having a support for holding a piece of fabric consisting of a multiplicity of rows of links, each of which links has its ends encircling the middle portions of two adj acent links of the next adjacent row, linkforming tools, operating mechanism for moving the support and tools relatively to present different points on the piece of fabric to-the tools to receive links, a feeder for intermittently feeding to the tools a continuous strip of integrally connected links, and means for operating the tools intermittently to cause them to sever a link from said strip and then curl the ends of the link over the middle portions of two adjacent links at the edge of the piece of fabric on the support, substantially as set forth.

4. A machine for making link-mesh fabric having a support for holding a piece of fabric consisting of a multiplicity of rows of links, each of which links has its ends encircling the middle portions of two adj acent links of the next adjacent row, linkforming tools, means for moving the support and tools relatively step-by-step to present different points on the piece of fabric to the tools to receive links, a feeder for feeding a continuous strip of integrally connected links to the tools, and means for operating the tools in the intervals of rest of'said step-by-step movement to cause them to sever a link from said strip, bend the ends of said link, project those ends over the middle portions of two adjacent links of the piece of fabric on the support and then further bend said ends to cause them to embrace said two links, substantially as set forth.

5. Amachine for making link-mesh fabric having a support for a piece of fabric, a guide adjacent to the support, means for feeding a continuous strip of integrally connected links through the guide, a die-member, a plunger within the diemember, and means for reciprocating the die-member and plunger toward and away from the support and adjacent to the end of the guide, said die-member and plunger having the sides thereof adjacent to the end of the guide lying in the same plane, so that both the diemember and the plunger coact with the end of the guide to sever a link from the strip fed through the guide, substantially as set forth.

6. A machine for making link-mesh fabric having a support for a piece of fabric, a guide adjacent to the support, means for feeding a continuous strip of integrally connected links through the guide, two linkforming members mounted adjacent to the end of the guide, and means for reciprocating said members toward and away from the support and close to the end of the guide so that both of said members coact with the end of the guide to sever a link from the strip passing through the guide, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 9th day of October, 1918.

Annrsoiv H. HAZELTINE, EDITH DANIEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents.

Washington, D. G. 

